Apparatus for pressing garments



1962 M. R. DOSAL 3,048,310

APPARATUS FOR PRESSING GARMENTS Filed Dec. 31, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

9-0 F, 6 3 9 a INVENTOR.

MART|N ROBERTO DOSAL ayw xyw A T TO/iWE Y Aug. 7, 1962 M. R. DOSAL APPARATUS FOR PRESSING GARMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1959 FIG.

INVENTOR. MARTIN ROBERTO DOSAL A T TORNEY Aug. 7, 1962 M. R. DOSAL 3,048,310

APPARATUS FOR PRESSING GARMENTS Filed Dec. 51, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. /0

MARTIN ROBERTO DOSAL TTORNE Y 1962 M. R. DOSAL 3,048,310

APPARATUS FOR PRESSING GARMENTS Filed Dec. 51, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. MAR'HN ROBERTO DOSAL ATTORNEY atent 3,048,310 Patented Aug. 7, 1962 fifice 3,048,310 APPARATUS FOR PRESSING GARMENTS Martin Roberto Dosal, P.0. Box 53-62, Miami Shores, Fla. Filed Dec. 31, 1959, Ser. No. 863,172

I 1 Claim. (Cl. 223-70) My invention consists in a new and useful improvement in apparatus for pressing garments, and is more particularly designed for household use for finishing laundered garments such as shirts and trousers.

The particularly novel and useful feature of my im- Removably mounted on the casing 3 is a vertical tube 6 carrying a frame 7 (FIGS. 7 and 8). The tube 6 has a discharge opening 6-a inside of the frame 7. It is to be understood that the above-described structure provides means adapted to supply air under pressure from the blower to the interior of the frame 7.

The frame 7 is provided with a plurality of electric heating elements 7-a with an electric lead 7-b suitably connected with a controlled source of electricity.

A form S'of suitable material such as Dacron or Or-lon is fitted about the frame 7 (FIG. 1) and is distended (FIG. 2) by the air supplied by the blower. The form 8 is suitably dimensioned and configured to simulate the torso and portions of the arms of the wearer of the shirt to be pressed, and comprises a back portion S-a and a flront portion 8-b connected by zippers -0 and 8-d (FIG. 18) which extend from the ends of the arm portions 8-e to the tails 8]'' of the form 8.

It is obvious that, when the zippers 8-0 and 8-d are opened, the form 8 can be slipped over the frame 7 and mounted thereon.

I have constructed and successfully used an apparatus to my novel apparatus, it is to be distinctly understood that I do not consider my invention as to my novel apparatus to be limited to said embodiments but refer for its scope to the claim appended hereto.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of my apparatus showing an undistended form for pressing a shirt.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation showing said form distended.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of a support for said form.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of FIG.

2, in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a top plan of an expanding ring for said form.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of said ring.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of a frame for supporting said form.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of said frame.

FIG. 9 is a front elevation of a shirt to be pressed mounted on said form.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective of a sleeve mounted on a modification of said form.

FIG. 11 is a top plan of a holder for the shirt.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged horizontal section on the line 1212 of FIG. 9, in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, enlarged side elevation, partly The form 8 has a neck portion 8g with a closure 8-h provided with a hanger-hook H.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the form 8 has a plurality of perforations 8-1' for passage of the jets of heated air from the form 8 to the inner surface of the shirt 12 on the form 8. Those portions of the form 8, on which are imposed the thicker portionsof the shirt 12 (FIG. 9) such as the pockets 12-a and the front folds12-b for the buttons and button holes, are provided with larger perforations 8- L to supply larger jets of heated air to portionslZ-a and 12-]; comprising several layers of the material of the shirt 12.

I provide an expander ring 9 (FIGS. 5 and 6) which is disposed in suitable keepers (not shown) in the lower part of the form 8 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

In order to make the form 8 adjustable for different sizes of shirts to be pressed, I provide enlarging inserts 10 (FIG. 18) having zippers 10-a coacting with the zippers S-c and S-d. The expanding ring 9 is adjustable (FIGS. 5 and 6) having an eye 9-a through which passes! end 9-b having a hook 9-0 fitting in holes 9-11. V

The form 8 has at its bottom the tails 8-f which'are gathered about a rubber gasket 6-b (FIG. 4) mounted clamp 6-0 to effect an air-tight seal between the form 8 in section, of a stiffening rod'for said shirt. FIG. 14 is a front elevation, part being broken away, of i FIG. 18 is a perspective of the form shown in FIG. 2

modified by enlarging insets.

As shown in the drawings, my apparatus has a base 1 made mobile by having suitable casters 2, and carrying a casing 3 in which are mounted an electric motor and a blower driven by said motor (not shown); The motor has an electric lead 4 with suitable plug 5.

and the tube 6. a

I provide a stand 11 for supporting the tube 6 when not in use (FIGS. 7, 8 and 14). V i

In FIG. 3 thereis shown a modified support 13 for the form 8, mounted on the tube 6. This support 13 has a suitable reflecting coating 13-0 and a plurality of electric heating elements 13-b which are'counter-sunk in the support 13 and provided with electric leads 13-c suitably connected'with'a controlled source of electricity. It will be noted that when the support 13 is used the discharge opening 6-a of the tube 6 is between the support 13- and the rubber gasket 6-b on which the tails 8- of the form 8 are clamped.

For pressing shirts which have long sleeves 12-6 (FIG. 10) the form 8 has extensions 8-k, each of which has an electric heating element 8l. i i I provide holders 14 (FIG. 11), each comprising a pair of plates 14-11 with hooks 14-b connected by an elastic band 14-c. The use of these holders 14 willbe presently explained.

I provide a pair of extensible rods 15 (FIG. 13), each of which has a hollow portion 15-a with an inner' peripheral collar 15-b at one end and a closure cap 15-0 threaded in the other end, and a solid portion 15-d slidable through the collar IS-b with a stop-collar 15-1; on its other inner end, and biased outwardly by a coil spring 3 15-] confined between the cap 15-c and the end of the portion IS-d. These rods 15 are used to hold the front folds 12-b of the shirt 12 in proper alignment when the shirt 12 is being pressed (FIG. 9).

I provide clips 16 (FIG. 12) for holding the rods 15 in proper positions. Each clip 16 has a bar 16-a with a semi-circular socket 16-b on each end, and a transverse bar 16-c projecting forwardly its middle. A pair of rods 16-d are pivoted to the bar 16-a on the sides of the bar 16-c, respectively, and have on their outer ends semi-cir cular sockets 16-e co-acting with the sockets 16-b, respectively. Each rod 16-d has an operating lever 16- biased by an expansion spring 16-g confined between the lever 16-f and the bar 16-c, to effect clamping engagement of the sockets 16-e.

The structure, shown in FIGS. 1 to 13, and 18 and heretofore described, constitutes my improved apparatus for pressing shirts.

I will now describe the structure (FIGS. 14-17) which serves for pressing trousers.

It is to be understood that the parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, heretofore described, serve the same purpose for the structure now to be described.

The air-supply tube 6 has mounted thereon a frame 17 having two pairs of rods 17-11 and 17-h which carry suitable electric heating elements 17-c with electric leads connected with a controlled source of electricity.

A suitably dimensioned and configured form 18 of material similar to that of the form 8 is fitted about the frame 17 and has closures 18-a (FIG. 16) in its upper ends and a closure 18-b (FIG. in its bottom, which surrounds the tube 6 in an air-tight joint. It will be noted (FIG. 17) that the air-discharge opening 6-d of the tube 6 is disposed inside of the form 18 on the frame 17 and that the form 18 is distended by the air under pressure supplied by the tube 6. The form 18 has a plurality of perforations 18-c (FIG. 14) similar to perforations 8-1 of the form 8 for passage of the jets of heated air from the form 18 to the inner surface of the trousers 19 mounted on the form 18.

Having described the structural details of my improved apparatus, I will now describe its operation and use in the practice of my improved process.

I will describe first the use of the structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 13 and 18 for pressing shirts.

When the parts are as shown in FIG. 1, i.e. the form 8 mounted on the support 7, the apparatus can be moved on its casters 2 to a suitable place for use, and the lead 4 has its plug 5 connected to a source of electricity, and the lead 7-b from the heating elements 7-11 is properly connected to a source of electricity.

The shirt 12 (FIG. 9) to be pressed is suitably dampened and placed upon the form 8. The rods 15 are inserted in the front folds 12-b of the shirt 12 and held in proper alignment by the clips 16. It will be noted (FIG. 12) that the clips 16 are so constructed that when a clip 16 is to be applied to the inserted rods 15, one of the sockets 16-e is swung away from its associated socket 16-b by gripping its operating lever 16-f and the bar 16-c between two fingers so that the clip 16 can be made to engage one of the inserted rods 15, this process being repeated to engage the other inserted rod 15. When the clip 16 is to be removed, both sockets 16-e can be simultaneously swung away from the sockets 16-b by gripping both levers 16-f between two fingers.

The holders 14 (FIG. 11) are used to engage the ends 12-d of the collar of the shirt 12 against the neck portion 8-g of the form 8 (FIG. 9), the hooks 14-a on one end of the holder 14 engaging the portion S-g and the hooks 14-a on the other end of the holder 14 engaging the ends 12-d of the collar, and the elastic band 14-0, being under tension, holds the collar tightly against the portion 8-g.

The shirt 12 being thus disposed on the form 8, the blower is energized to distend the form 8 and the heating elements 7-1; are energized to heat the air supplied to the form 8 by the blower.

It is obvious that, if desired, the heating elements 7-a can be disposed in the casing 3 to heat the air supplied to the tube 6.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the jets of heated air are supplied through the perforations 8-i and 8-1 of the form 8 to the inner surface of the shirt 12, and that the distended form 8 presses the shirt 12 until the moisture in the shirt 12 is completely evaporated, and the dried shirt having assumed the contour of the form 8 is satisfactorily pressed into the desired shape which is maintained as that maintained by a conventionally pressed shirt.

I will now describe the use of the structure shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 for pressing trousers.

The form 18 is mounted on the support 17, and the suitably dampened trousers 19 to be pressed are placed on the form 18. The holders 14 are used to engage the upper opening of the trousers 19 to hold the parts tightly against the form 18 (FIG. 14). The blower is energized to distend the form 18 and the heating elements 17-0 are energized to heat the air supplied to the form 18 by the blower. From the foregoing it will be understood that the jets of heated air are supplied through the perforations 18-c of the form 18 and that the distended form 18 presses the trousers 19 until the moisture in the trousers 19 is entirely evaporated and the dried trousers 19, having assumed the contour of the form 18, are satisfactorily pressed into the desired shape which is maintained as that maintained by conventionally pressed trousers.

It will be noted (FIG. 14) that the rods 17-11. and 17-h are so disposed in the form 18 as to produce the desired creases in the front and back of the trousers 19.

It is obvious that, in order to make the form 18 adjustable for different sizes of trousers, it can be provided with enlarging inserts, such as the ones used in the shirt form, having the zippers (not shown) placed on both sides of form 18 (left and right) which extends from the upper ends of the legs portion to the tails of form 18 (not shown), clamped thereon as in the shirt form, on same tube 6. An expansion ring such as the one described in FIGURE 6, will be placed on the inner part of waist line form, 15-15 of FIGURE 14.

It is very important to say that in the base 1, FIG. 1, theres to be placed a timer-switch for turning-on the complete system in order to start the pressing of the garments. According to the quality of garments, you set the timer, which automatically turns off the whole system.

The tube 6 has two parts (not shown in drawings). The upper, one which holds the frames 7 and 17 is to be inserted into the bottom tube which supports the rubber gasket that works in the case of shirts and trousers. The upper tube used for shirts is not the same used for trousers.

The heating wires 7-]; and 17-0 can be placed in the inside of the tube 6, all the way through to the timerswitch.

The wires can be plugged and unplugged where both parts of tube 6 are being adjusted.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

In an apparatus for pressing a dampened shirt, the combination of a base having a casing provided with a blower; a tube removably mounted on said casing; a frame mounted on said tube and provided with a plurality of electric heating elements; a form configured to simulate the torso, neck and arms of the wearer of the shirt, said form being removably mounted on said frame, and comprising a front portion and a back portion, having means for connecting said portions; a rubber gasket mounted on said tube on which are gathered tthe lower ends of said portions of said form; a ring clamp removably disposed about said lower ends and adapted to form an air-tight joint between said ends and said tube, said tube, frame and form being so related that heated air under pressure supplied by said blower inflates said form; and means adapted to so closely confine a dampened shirt on said form that the body, sleeves and collar of the shirt are conformed to the simulated torso, neck and arms of said form.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Leef June 9, 1942 'Mathews et a1. July 18, 1944 Paris Mar. ,25, 1947 Vigerust et a1. Feb. 3, 1948 Richa et a1. Nov. 30, 1948 Maurer Nov. 14, 1950 Petrich Ian. 26, 1954 Glover Apr. 3, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 11, 1924 

